Welcome Back Our Virginia Team

We want to welcome back to Honduras team leader Steve and some old friends and a lot of new friends this year.  There are five churches involved with this team.  Welcome folks from Trinity Baptist Church, Fairlawn Baptist Church, Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, Blue Ridge Baptist Church and Blacksburg Baptist Church.  This was a team of fourteen and half of the team members were all new friends.  But they all came on board ready to serve the Lord.  Some of these folks did not know each other until this team was formed. The unity this team represented who would have known they did not already know each other.  Everyone pitched in and did an amazing job working side by side.  If it was cooking breakfast, making the sandwiches, mixing the Gatorade or loading the trip, they all worked side by side as one big and amazing family in Christ.  We would like to welcome back team leader, Steve, Mitchell,  Joe and daughter Claire, Sandra, Paula, Mike, Sam and Darryl.  We would love to welcome on board Jim, Chris, Pastor Tommy, Robert and Jenna.

The first night of devotions team leader, Steve, did an amazing job challenging the team He chose three different scripture references to reflect on.  Missions is individual.  God put this team together.  God wants to show us something.  The mission trip is a vehicle  Every one of us has different levels of faith.  We all are on a different journey and will learn something different simply by being here. 

Hebrews 11:1  We have faith easier to speak than it is to do.  God will test our faith and how are we to get there if we cannot see our faith.  We struggle with our faith because it is not something we can see.

John 7:16-17 You will know what God's will for you is this week. Questions

 to ponder on: What did God want you to see, What did God want you to hear, What did God what you to feel and what did God want you to experience.

John 5:17-20 God's will is where God shows me He is working in my life this week in Honduras.  You will be spiritual blind if all

you come to do is build a house or do a police conference.

Mt.Horeb

Mt. Horeb was new and welcoming to a lot of this team.  Sandra and Paula were so excited about the North American Dorms.  They said the last time they were here there was only a couple of facilities up and running.  God has truly blessed Mt. Horeb  through a lot of answered prayers and monetary gifts as well.  We are blessed to provided such a welcoming and warm facility for our teams each week here in Honduras.  We cannot take any credit for what God has done on Mt. Horeb.  We are all just the hands and feet of Jesus. Mike and I are so grateful for such an amazing gift from God to serve Him in such a loving country with folks who love the Lord.

"Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Mt. Horeb, when He said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn how to revere me as long as they live in the land and they may teach them to their children."

Deuteronomy 4:10

A Beautiful Family

Joe has come down at least two years with his oldest daughter Clara.  This year Joe and Clara were blessed to bring along Jenna their daughter and sister.  As you can see in the pictures it was not hard to get pictures of these two lovely young ladies working side by side.  They were such a blessing to there team and I know Joe was one proud father having his two daughters with him on an internal mission trip with him to Honduras.  They are respectful and strong Christian young ladies.  

Mike was grateful for Joe and his construction abilities on his team.  Mike and I had a family emergency which caused to leave before this team finished the project.  Joe was most helpful to Mike in what needed to be done to complete his team's week and how Mike wanted every detail taken care of and we thank you Joe for all you did.  What an example of a godly family.

Arrival at El Tambor

This team had a journey each day to their job site. But before starting their journey daily they lifted up their day unto the Lord in prayer on the porch of the North American Dorm. It took the Land Cruiser the Kia and the bus to transport them to the project.  But the project was only about thirty minutes across the road from Mt. Horeb, praise God.  The folks on the bus had to walk from the community center in El Tambor which is actually a beautiful trail of God's creation surrounding their path to the project.  The Kia and the Land Cruiser were able to get closer but had to travel through a holding area for about twenty five cattle which was not a problem either.  The cows either stood or sat watching them each day go by their home as they chewed their cud.  This was the closet any of us had every been to a cow this huge.  They were beautiful creatures who God has created.

The crew on the two vehicles closet to the project starting unloading the supplies off the back of the Kia carrying and dodging cow dung each day.  They did this with a joyous heart for they were providing a precious family a home. The first morning upon arriving they came across  a small stumbling block.  There was a barb wired fence keeping them from getting to their project which was simply on the other side of the fence.  So they passed the supplies over to each other until there was a means otherwise.  They had to cut the barb wire so they cut get through to the foundation of the home.  There was not anything which kept this team from doing what God had called them to do, build a home for Nelson, Ana and Demas, their four year old son. Thank you all for being so flexible without complaint.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Nelson, Ana and Demas

We would like to introduce to you a quiet but precious little family who lives in El Tambor.  They are Nelson, father who works in the melon fields which is a seasonal job, his wife and Christina lady, Ana and their son, Demas.  Ana introduced her family very nervously that first day, she shared to Meida she was overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord and humbled God was giving her this home she had prayed for a very long time.  She was so nervous she introduced Nelson as her husband with no name attached.  Meida calmly asked her to give us the name of her husband and she said Nelson every so quietly. Demas was so excited as well to get a dry and secure place to live with his mother and father.  When we went out to assess this was not the family next on Pastor David's list of solicitants .  But a month prior to our visit their existing home had been washed away while they were actually in there sleeping one evening.  The rains this year have been brutal for the people here in Honduras.  Either they do not get enough rain or they receive too much rain at one time.  So as we stood there looking at what was left of their existing home Mike and I totally understood why they got moved up on the list of homes needed in El Tabor.  There is at least six more homes in this community who need homes but Pastor David was led to move her up to get her home and this team was an answer to Ana's prayer that week.

Happy Birthday

We celebrated with Jonathan his 17th birthday.  We talked the morning of his birthday and he shared he could not pick a better place to celebrate his birthday serving the Lord on his first mission trip to Honduras.  We sung to him several times that day all in Spanish of course.  We provided him a tres leche birthday cake and a big surprise from Mr. Mike an egg on his head.  Martha, Wuilmer, Rudy, Pastor Carlos, Alexa and Manuel sang to him in Spanish the night of his birthday after dinner.  I believe it was Mike who shared can we please sing to him in English.  So we all sang "Happy Birthday" in English too.  He truly celebrated his birthday to the fullest in Honduras.  

Setting Up the Cornerstones

 Each team comes in with an unique project or opportunities.  Well this one came in with a couple of opportunities.  Jim, new team member jumped right on one of the problems and dug out the corner of one of the cornerstones to make room for the medal pole to go in the ground to set up this cornerstone.  He worked diligently with a shovel digging out the area for this medal pole to be placed.  Pastor Carlos with a grin on his face says the foundation is not level and says, "But this is not problem and turns around to walk off with the help of Sam to make the corrections to make this house a home.  Tino, the driver pitched in to help set one of the corners.  Every one was working together to make somethin imperfect as close to perfect as our human hands can produce.  This is similar with our own lives.  We are not perfect but as long as our foundation is solid in the Lord, He will make us to His perfection in due time.  We just need to be willing to be adjusted at the given time to make us strong in our foundation in Jesus Christ. In order to do this we need the correct tools to make our foundation level and strong, God's Word daily, prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit moving in our lives on a daily basis and be willing to know we are sinners and ask forgiveness daily for all we do which makes our foundation not level.

Prayer and Dedication of First Block

Team leader Steve and Pastor Tommy prayed over the first block as we directed the family to lay their hands upon the first block.  Nelson, Ana and Demas moved slowly to the beginning of their new home. They came closer to this first block and only can I imagine what their thoughts might have been.  This is it the day God said we are getting a home.  The day we will finally have a fresh start and a new beginning thanks be to God.  The excitement inside of them though other than being very nervous and quiet you would not even know what they were thinking.  The team gathered around this sweet little family and laid their hands upon them and each other as this family and the week ahead was lifted up in prayer to our Father in Heaven who made all this possible.

Block 101

Mr.  Mike always with pleasure teaches all his new times how to lay the block Honduran style.  He had a big class that day.  Every one watched intently to make sure they walked away with the way it needed to be done here on this project.  There was a lot of returnees who wanted a refresher course as well.  This team was so willing to do whatever it took to give Nelson, Ana and Demas a home they would be proud of and be pleases with as well.  So once Mr. Mike got through every one scurried off to find their corner and paired up to start laying the 799 blocks left for this home.  They learned quickly and did an amazing job, especially with the filling of the joints.  If the joints do not look good the house will not look good either.  One team member shared, Darryl I believe, "We need to build this home as if it was our own home we are building."  Amen brother Darryl.  We need to take complete and total pride in all work we do for the Lord.  It is our gift from Him to serve Him any place in this world.  If we have been called to go we must give it our very best. 

A House Becomes a Home

In five days this house would become a home.  But not without God leading this team every step of the way.  This is what team leader said during introductions the first morning.  We are only the hands and feet of Jesus called by Him to come and serve you in the building of your first secure home.  So with this in mind each team member worked side by side for five days and got this family a home they would be proud of for many years.  Paula and Sandra, long time comers to Honduras worked together on the joints which they do so well.  They put a lot of love into every slab of mortar they place between each and every joint.  Joe and Darryl laid blocks and cut blocks as well throughout the entire week.  The team lost six of their team members to another mission project team leader, Steve worked on all year for their team to come and do.  So the team of nine worked hard together on this house three of the five days without their new friends and their old friends.  There was never a complaint about we did not have enough help.  They did an amazing job as a team working for their Lord getting those blocks down those joints filled for Nelson, Ana and Demas.  What an awesome job team.  This team came and did two projects in the same week and it all came out according to God's plan.

The Beauty of Honduras

Honduras has beauty in many ways,  Of course the beauty of the people.  Their lifestyles are none compared to ours but yet the simplicity of their daily lives is breathtaking and a desire had by all North Americans who come to Honduras.  They live each day to provide a meal for their families by collecting the firewood to cook on the clay stoves daily or collectively at one time.  They sell tortillas, frozen bananas, wash someone's laundry or work the fields for a meal for their families.  There is not a lot of stuff in their lives which hinders them from totally relying on their Lord for their daily needs.  They trust God will provide all they need for each day. They do not worry or seem concerned about their day.  The ladies prepare their days like the Proverbs 31 lady does, she provides the needs of her family daily.

They are surrounding by God's creation of trees with numerous fruits and vegetables.  They do not depend on man and the grocery store for their food, they plant and grow their own foods they need to eat daily.  They can always go to the local Pulperia to purchase their beans and rice as needed.  So many of us are jealous of the impression of Jesus Christ they exhibit in their daily lives, they truly rely on the Lord for all they need and His creation which provides so much for them as well.  They may not have a lot materialistically but they have it all within their community and spiritually. 

Strong in the Word

This team came on board ready to share in God's Word on a daily basis.  They saw the need to put this at the for front of their week.  Team member Mike did an amazing job one evening during his devotion.  He used the scripture out of Matthew 28 about "The Great Commission".  We need to invest our time and energy into Eternity. Whether we are at work, sharing with someone or on a mission trip, sharing the gospel with whoever will listen should be our focal point of our daily lives.  This is not a suggestion but a command from God, "Go and make disciples of all nations,". We need to intently listen to Him and what He has in store for us on a daily basis.  There is no one who can doubt your testimony.  Your testimony is your life in Christ.  This is something not anyone can take away from you or tarnish.  Go and share what Jesus has done in your life.  It could make a difference of eternity and hell for someone.

Our Second Project

The team leader Steve came last year and Mike shared with him how our ministry was trying to build a relationship with the local police check point.  Steve shared how he and some other of his team members who are police would love to come back and share in some activities and devotional time with these fellow police officers.  So as this year past we heard from Steve and he shared he had six men interested in coming and sharing in drills and mostly God's Word with fellow police officers.  All the hard work Steve put into this came to life this week in Honduras.  We placed the construction team across the road about twenty minutes to so both teams would be close to each other if any needs were required of each other.  So on Saturday of their week the team spit up into two different teams, one the construction team and one was the Police Conference.  The six North American police, team leader Steve, retired Captain, Officer Robert has worked 15 years as an university police, Lt. Sam who has worked for 18 1/2 years in investigation unit, Pastor Tommy, who counsels the police, families and notifies families of deaths, Officer Jim has been a police officer for 9 1/2 years and Officer Chris has been in law enforcement 11 years and works with the canine unit. There is probably sixty plus years of experience amongst these young men who came to serve their Lord this week with the police of Honduras.  They did not come to teach them but to work beside them this week and learn from them as well.

The Honduran Chief of Police has been a police in Honduras for 7 years.  He responsibilities are checking for drugs, weapons and illegals coming through Honduras.  He works with the national border control as well. There was a couple other police who walked in while introductions were taking place.  Officer Nelson also has been with the Honduran police for 7 years. He worked in special unit and shared how the military work beside them as well.  He is learning more about the national border control through educational classes.  Officer Alex has been a police in Honduras 9 years. He also works in the special unit for 4 years now.  He is teaching and helping other officers learn more about the special unit work.  They shared how they went to the states and Guatemala to learn more about the special unit work. 

They shared a word of prayer and went out to take a tour of the facility.  After their tour they decided to meet on the porch of the ware house with the police live and sleep.  We brought in chairs from the local church in Pavana so everyone would have a place to sit during the conferences.  Team member Jim, took the lead and share a little about himself and how he came into law enforecement and his carreer in the military.  One of the Honduran police asked him did he have trouble sleeping since being back home from military duty.  Jim thought this was a most interesting question but knew the Honduran police knew a lot about their lives in the states.  Jim asked them if they were Christians and no one raised their hands.  They knew who God was but did not know Jesus has their Lord and Savior.  Another question was asked from the Honduran police, "How can you have faith in God with the line of work you do.  Jim and several others shared their personal relationship with Jesus Christ is how we do everything in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.  So the North Americans were going to learn from them but they were there to teach the Hondurans how to live for Christ while being a police officer.  At that time Mike asked could Pastor Pedro come out on Monday and join them and let Pastor Tommy worked beside him so in teaching him how to minister to these guys with concerns in their lives and their jobs.  Of course that was a go ahead.  Pastor Pedro goes out weekly with members from his church to teach a bible study with about seven of these police officers.  There was actually ten bibles given out recently to the ones who requested a bible.  God is at work at this police check point and these six gentlemen planted a lot of seeds towards God's Kingdom work.  Thank you Steve, team leader and gentlemen who put so much of their time and energy into this new ministry God has created.

Worship Service

This is where my blog ends which for Mike and I was a very special day worshipping with all brothers and sisters from North America and Honduras.  We headed out to church and walked down the path from the community center which half the team had traveled the last two days.  We arrived at the church to warm greeting from Pastor David.  The church members slowly came down different paths from their homes to hear this North American bring God's Word.  Before the sermon was brought two team members Robert and Clara gave their personal testimony. Clara is 17 years old and got up to share how Jesus was most important in her life and how her family helped her grow spiritually in the Lord as she has grown into adult hood.  Robert shared how he was blessed to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and grateful to be in Honduras today worshiping with each one of them.

The team had worked several nights on singing the chorus of "Victory in Jesus" in Spanish.  Wow, what a beautiful choir Mitchell led in the service this bright and beautiful Sunday morning.  Mitchell accompanied the team on the guitar as they sang the verses in English and the chorus in Spanish.  The Hondurans joined in with them as they sang in Spanish.  All the hard work and practice prior to church this Sunday morning truly paid off and it was absolutely a group in harmony for Jesus.

Pastor Tommy made his way to the podium as he brought the Word of God.  He shared growing up he can remember his mother singing "Jesus Loves Me' to him daily.  Jesus was the central focal point of his family's day..  They read God's Word on a daily basis. 

The sermon came out of Mark 10:46-52, "The Blind Man Who Begged"

The blind man was a beggar in one of the most richest places in Israel. It was a clean and extravagant country.  All the cities had walls around them and the gates were closed at night for safety.  But in the morning the gates were opened back up which is where the beggar was there as the day began. The government encouraged the people of wealth to be cruel to the poor and beggars of their area. In those days being blind was a curse from God.  The beggar had a name but no one knew it.  But guess who knew his name and knows our name, Jesus Christ. We are very important to Jesus and He knows our names no matter where we come from.   It was very easy for the blind man to give up but he never quit begging and asking for some kind of help. The blind man heard Jesus had healed others  and he knew this was his only chance to be healed and it would be by the great healer Jesus.  Jesus showed mercy on the blind man.  Just like the blind man if we want our lives changed we have to have Jesus Christ in our lives.  We need to be fixed because we all our sinners.  We just like the blind man all have something which needs fixing.  We cannot fix what is wrong with us only Jesus Christ can fix our problems, our sins, our lives. The blind man admitted he needed Jesus, We need to admit with need to Jesus. We need to admit we need outside help. Jesus cares about our problems no matter how big or small they are.  Jesus cares for us all if we would only give Him our lives.

The blind man asked for help.  He said, 'Jesus have mercy on me".  The blind man did not care what others thought of him asking God for help. We need not worry about what others think, folks making fun of us being a Christian, or we accused of being weak for being a Christian, or maybe they simply do not like to go to church or church makes them uncomfortable. The blind man did not care what others thought of him, he kept yelling for Jesus to help him, " heal me, please heal me Jesus'.  Jesus had the blind man come to Him and Jesus healed him.  The blind man throw  off his coat as he approached Jesus.  The coat could have been in the way of him getting to Jesus. So he threw it off to get to Jesus quicker.  Is there something standing in your way today of you and Jesus? Is there a secret sin in your life, is there pride, what is standing between you and Jesus.  We know we need to change but will not do it.  We have lots of excuses why we do not want to give our lives to Jesus.. The blind man did not have any excuses, he wanted Jesus to heal him from his life of blindness.  Jesus said to the blind man, "Go your faith has healed you."  Jesus saved the blind man from his troubles and gave him a new life.  Jesus is willing to help us if we are willing to give our lives to Him.  There was a lot of folks in church that day but this sermon was definitely for one man in particular who will not give his life to the Lord.  Please continue to pray for the life of Alex who because of lust and pride will not give his life to the Lord.  After church Mike went over to him and said have you decided to follow Jesus and Alex said back to him not today.  Well my friends we are not promised tomorrow and tomorrow may be too late.  Alex has a beautiful wife and three beautiful dauthters and one gorgeous baby boy. If he were to die today he would spend his eternal life in hell and would not ever see his family again. Is that your life? Does your family know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and you are not ready to give your life to Jesus?  Your destination is eternal hell, well I plead with you today if you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior let today be your new life in Christ. 

Sadly this is where this blog ends.  Mike and I had to make an emergency trip home to family.  The team did finish the home and the police conference was a huge success. So to God be the glory for the rest of this week in Honduras for our team from Virginia

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Welcome Forest Lake Baptist Church

God blesses us every other year with an amazing godly group of people who love their Lord.  Team leader, Bobby, brings a group here to go door to door evangelizing and VBS.  I would like to introduce to you by name some humble godly folks who put the Lord before themselves, who cover themselves in prayer and who truly know and live out God's Word daily.  There genuineness is too genuine not to be lived out on a daily basis.  The Word of God flows off their lips from memory but you can see it in their hearts and actions as well.  Welcome to Honduras Team leader, Bobby, his brother in law, Harry, Chad, a new team member to Honduras, Pastor Wayne who always comes with Bobby and his son, Richard who came for the first time last year who brought along his lovely bride, Holly, also we have two more couples with us this week, Darren who always comes with Bobby brought his lovely bride Rebecca who has been many years ago and is so happy to be back serving beside Darren in Honduras and welcome our first time couple Brad and Julie to Honduras.  This team of team came equipped to share the gospel wherever the Lord was planning on sending them.  Mike and shared before they arrived we are fixing to go into a revival this week and join me as I share about this amazing week God has placed in front of us.

For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2

Three Godly Couples

As I shared earlier, we want to welcome Brad and Julie who brought so many gifts and talents to this evangelism team.  First of all Julie was nervous about coming but after preparing her devotional for one  morning she realized God has this.  Julie shared how we serve a living God.  What would it be like to walk with Jesus while He was on this earth?  Would we follow Him or crucify Him?  What do we do today?  God is always there waiting on us.  He is there.  Are we there with Him?  Do we pray like we should.  He thinks about us all the time but do we think about Him like we should.  He loves so much more than we can ever imagine. Brad shared how God took him right on out of his comfort zone one day out going door to door.  He shared all week it came time to share the plan of salavation with someone and he would back off  to let Pastor Wayne or Bobby do it. Well this one visit they were not around and so Brad got to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone who because of Brad's boldness and confidence in his Lord this person came to Jesus Christ.  Halleiugh and praise the Lord for this one new sister in Christ.  Thank you Brad for taking the plunge and being obedient to what God had called you to do this week, bring the lost to Christ.  Brad's devotional was spot on for what happened to him the very next day.  Brad's shared out of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10,

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

By Brad allowing God to take his weaknesses God was allowed to use Brad to glorify His Kingdom here on here.  Brad shared he will get his way regardless of what we think we should do.

Julie made a special friend named Precious who was special needs and was shunned by her peers but with Julie's beautiful and warm smile she was able to befriend Precious and let her know she was loved by Jesus too. 

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?

1 Corinthians 3:16

Welcome back Richard to Honduras.  This year he was so excited to bring his lovely bride Holly for her first visit to Honduras.  Holly is forever grateful she was obedient to God's calling to come serve beside Richard.  Holly shared God was dealing with me about coming here.  She gave God all the excuses not to come.  First the trip was planned for September and she was just starting up her kindergarten class for the year and she did not want to leave her babies.  But then the trip got moved up to October so she said well maybe I can go.  She said she did not want to be the only woman on the team and then Julie and Rebecca came on board.  Holly was running out of excuses of why she could not come to Honduras.  During her devotional she shared how sad it would have been if she had not come and missed out on all these many blessings God placed before her this week. Holly with her sweet soft voice shared with us "If God tells us to do something then we better just do it and do it with all our heart."  Satan will give us many excuses not to do anything the Lord has called us to go and to.  Holly's scripture reference for her devotional was

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Holly was touched especially by being a teacher how the parents struggle to get their children an education down here.  After sixth grade the children have to pay to continue their education.  Holly shared how there was one family who they visited and the lady had cancer, the lady was Christian but the rest of her family were not Christians. The lady shared with Holly she had faith God will heal her body from the cancer.  I believe if I am correct Holly shared the daughter in law had a stoke yesterday and in saying all this they all were joyful despite their hardships.  The mother is working two jobs for her daughter to go to school.  So with all they have going on in this home physically they are still working hard as a family to provide for their children to continue their education. Saturday morning before their last day going door to door it was Richard's turn to do devotions.  His topic was on fear.  He shared fear is sin.  Richard has been fighting God for over twenty years about becoming a pastor.  He turned God away so many times because of fear and so many  other reasons.  Richard became a elementary education school teacher a few years back and he had been there about two months when he got real sick and had to walk away from his classroom.  He loved his children and his job but he could no longer work as a teacher.  During this trial in his life God once again said I need you to be a pastor and follow me.  Richard shared once he said yes to God he went home that evening to the best night of sleep he had in many years.  Others fear him coming to Honduras the plane ride and other reasons.  Richard made a very profound statement in saying if I go today I know where I am going, home to be with my Savior.  How many of us look at life this way?  If we are true followers of Christ and not of this world we will know this is just a short journey we are on and our eternal home is awaiting us. 

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13

Richard was humbled by the greetings they received by being complete strangers in this country and they were welcomed with open arms.  As we were walking door to door others would come running asking if they could hear the good news of Jesus Christ and asked for prayers for their families.  Richard shared how back home people do not want to be bothered with hearing about the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.  There was a lot of visits to Pulperia and how they were generous and gave us physical water and in return we gave them the living water.

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 4:14

We want to welcome back Darren and this time he was blessed to bring his lovely wife Rebecca.  Years ago Rebecca came with him before having their three children.  But since their children are much older now they were able to return together to serve their Lord.  Rebecca shared how God placed a fourteen and a half year old named Gracie into her life on the first day.  She shared how she was missing her children but God placing Gracie in her life let her know her fourteen and a half year old Gracie back home was just fine.  God told Rebecca I have got this now go and serve me with trust, faith and gladness.  She shared confrontation with many people was not her strong hold.  But her forte was a lot of one on one which is what God has given her this week.  One of the church members who went out with her daily, Florencia, would always welcome her each day with a huge hug.  This was encouraging for me she shared and helped me through my journey here this week.  Rebecca started her morning devotion off with "Sanctuary" which pulled at my heart strings that morning.  This song takes me back to when my girls were fourteen and would sing this with joyful hearts.  Such fond memories we develop through serving our Lord.  Rebecca talked on how sharing sometimes need to be only simple.  Simple is best in some situations.  Also how sometimes we get too busy serving Him and we do not spend time with Him. He needs us to be near to Him and then He will send us where we need to go for Him. So if we give God our all daily and receive a clean start daily being cleansed through and through God can do so much with us and it is what He wants us to do not what we want to do for Him. We need to do it joyfully and with gladness as it reads in Psalm 51:1-2

Darren came back to work beside Rebecca which did his heart good.  It was beautiful seeing the two of them together serving their Lord.  Darren and Rebecca worked a lot on the preparations for VBS along with their other team members.  But to see them working side by side in one accordance with the children was Jesus and the children.  Darren shared during his morning devotion how it has rained everyday since we have been here but has not rained while we were doing the work of the Lord.  He did an amazing analogy of thunderstorms which we have massive ones here in Honduras.  How much rain do you think one cloud will drop at any given time? Millions of drops of rain at one time comes down through a cloud.  But unlike the rain God gives us his living water through His Word one drop at a time.  We then in turn give out His Word in droplets maybe even a puddle or two. As time goes by puddle after puddle of living water will hopefully fill me or whoever to overflowing with the living water which will make us all whole in Christ Jesus. God's thoughts and ways are so much more powerful.  God's promises will never come back void.  Thank you God for your living water.

Isaiah 55:8

Darren and Rebecca were also in love with little Precious. Darren shared how all the attention little Precious was getting by Rebecca braiding her hair and how Rebecca was showing the love of Jesus to Precious and other children were seeing her get the special attention she never receives from her peers.  The other children saw Jesus through the actions of Rebecca.  Darren said for just a little bit Precious was a "Queen".  Darren said this little one may have special needs, cannot talk or read but she sure knows how to pull on your heart strings.

These three couples exhibited an amazing testimony for all couples to go together and bring the lost to Christ.  You do not have to go to another country to do this.  But today we challenge all Christian couples to go and lead the lost to Christ.  So thank you all for setting the examples for what being a witness for Jesus is in a Christian home.

Off They Go

Off they go following behind their Lord and Savior into an amazing week of salvations and rededications to Jesus Christ.  They headed out of the church doors and turned right and turned right again.  They ended up about a mile up the road and worked their way back. 

Pastor Wayne said their first stop was at the home of a lady who had just received word her son was killed in Tegus and found after many months of searching for him.  She said with tears streaming down her cheeks God sent each of them to her on that Tuesday morning. Pastor Wayne shared how this was ordained by God long before that morning and God took North American strangers to a broken and hurting Honduran lady just at the right time.  God's timing is always perfect.  Margetta and Victor who were the church members in the group encouraged Katalina to get in church and be with others who are believers who can encourage her and help her through this hard time in her walk with the Lord.  The team gathered around her to pray for her and shared a bible with her to read when she needs uplifting and encouraging moments. Darren followed behind Pastor Wayne in sharing about a Veggie Tale story where we orchestrates everything  but God nudges us along the way to get His work done. Darren shared the topic of VBS that particular day was Patience and how he saw patience through Meida with the children in VBS.  Bobby shared how he saw patience with the children on the back row of church waiting their turn to receive crayons to color their  bible story sheet.  Chad enjoyed hearing Meida asked the children questions about what Richard's story was about.  One child played a game with Chad and he could not speak Spanish so he shared how he child was so patient with him as they figured it out between the two of them.  Chad shared how he was taken back at a home visit where 20 year old young lady took in an elderly man who was homeless and is caring for his needs. Chad was humbled by the way the people here take care of one another even when they do not have it to give.  They give all they have for those who are in need.  There was a lot of people saved and did not have a bible.  Thankful for the generosity of this group to bring bibles to all who need or so desire one.  Can you imagine being a believer in Christ and you do not own a Bible to read on a daily basis.  My question to you reading this today who are Christians and have a Bible do you pick up daily to read and grow in the Lord.  Or is your Bible sitting on a coffee table collecting dust?  This is a good question for all of us who are believers in Jesus Christ.  We have the opportunity to read His Word daily and do not.  These people are hungry for the Word and do not have it. 

Bobby shared about meeting Luis at this Pulperia.  Bobby stopped to get his church members a bag of water because they did not have anything to drink.  As Bobby prepared to pay for the water, Luis said, "Please I do not want your money because we are grateful you are hear sharing the gospel with our people.  Bobby said prior to the purchase of the water bags there were three young people there who heard the gospel.  There was a revival at the Pulperia. Luis excepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

On the second day Bobby asked Tino to take them back to this Pulperia where there was a family close by who wanted them to pray over their father and husband on dialysis.  He was not there the day before so faithful Bobby went back on day two to see and pray with this man. Then others came along their path who wanted them to pray over them. 

The team shared so many times I will receive Christ at church.  I will do it later not today.  One little boy received Christ during this week and lives in a home with non believers. 

There was so many ready to give their lives to Christ though.  Pastor Wayne shared how one lady was simply gracious for their visit and she had Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Why cannot folks back home want to sit with you and talk about the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ?  Why do folks back home turn the other way when they see us coming to share the gospel?  Jesus is so much more welcoming here in Honduras than at home.  The people here do not have stuff which hinders them from trusting and having faith in God for all their needs.  They know where there trust comes from, it comes in Jesus Christ.  It is nothing we have done but all He is and does in and through our lives.  We need to live more like the Hondurans, Christian and non Christians who are willing to listen and hear what God has in store for them.  We need to be open to who God truly is in our lives.  He is our Lord and Savior who gave His Son on the cross for my and your sins.  We are sinners saved by God's grace and how to we receive this on a daily basis.  Rebecca was praying one morning and thanking God just for the things He provided once our feet hit the floor.  How many times do we thank God for our breath we breathe and the day He has created for us?  How many times are we grateful for our provisions daily.  These people here opened their homes and a lot of their Pulperias for this team to share the gospel.  How many businesses back home would let you stand out in front of it and share the gospel of Jesus Christ?   Envision all these scereios and what a better place our world would be if others would allow Jesus back into their lives and receive the greatest gift of all, HIM. 

Our Blessings

The team shared numerous times how there week would not have been complete without our amazing staff.  They are more than translators.  They go beyond their call of duty wherever needed for the team.  Their words are ready to go when out on the field with the different families but their eyes are also wide open watching and protecting their North American friends every move.  Meida is over the top with leading the VBS on a daily basis. Darren shared she simply knows what to do and when to do it.  He also shared she can give them the eye when needed without saying a word to make sure they are with her and follow directions.  Carlos and Gorge were right there monitoring the one hundred children daily to make sure they were showing respect to the lesson at hand.   Meida took time during her lunch one day to help me talk with Pastor Ramon about he can help with papers for ten families in his community who a lot were visited this week by the North American team of evangelism.  God bless our Tino with a smile on his face he watched their supplies, water and vehicles all day long.  Mike and I pulled up one day to a smile which would light up your world.  He had to be bored stiff but regardless how bored he may have been we would have never known it.  Tino takes pride in the job God has given in through this ministry and we are forever grateful for his willingness to work beside us for Jesus.  Tino drives with extreme caution while the North Americans are in his care.  He got up both times to and from the airport at five a.m. to follow Mike and I took pick up the team once again with that glowing and godly smile he wears.  We are so blessed to have these folks work beside the evangelism team this week and making their lives easier and feel secure in all their endeavors.

Evangelism in Colonia Williams

The team arrived without two of their pieces of luggage.  One had a lot of baby bags for the hospital and the other was Darren's clothes and VBS materials.  Also we had a translator cancel on us the morning going out to Colonia Williams, The first couple of days Pastor Ramon was not there because of chemo treatment in Tegus.  Yes Pastor Ramon apologized for not being there the first two days.  The team became flexible and went out in two groups instead of three the first day.  Darren read his manual and brought a change of clothes just for this very purpose.  Darren said not to worry about VBS they would make it all work out which you will hear about later on in the blog.  So in saying all this we gathered with smiles on our faces and ready to see what God was going to do through all of us for His Kingdom work.   Mike did the introductions and did such an amazing job sharing what their task was at hand this week.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus and He is going to use us to bring the lost to Christ in this beautiful community or plant seeds which hopefully will be cultivated by the church family in weeks ahead.  Mike challenged the church family to follow up and disciple the new Christians as they are already doing with their church members at this time.  This church is strong in the Lord.  Pastor Ramon's wife, Margetta, a school teacher by trade took off of work today to greet and meet the North American teams in the absence of her husband Ramon.  Mike turned it over to Bobby to introduce everyone on this team and the Margetta introduced the members of the church who were going out with the team door to door. 

They separated into their two teams to get to know each other.  I heard them asking about their families and how many children they had.  Each one shared a little about themselves as to break the ice of where they were fixing to become one special family in the name of the Lord for the next five days.  They shared their prayer concerns with each other and prayed over their prayer concerns.  The group prayed for where the Lord would lead them this day and this is something the team did each morning upon arriving to the church.  They gathered together and lifted up their day unto the Lord.  Thank you God for Meida and Carlos who did show up to serve their Lord along side of the North Americans.  We want to thank, Chun, Florencia, Margetta, Victor and all the ladies who were behind the scenes cooking lunch for the Hondurans daily.  It took everyone to bring the lost to Christ this week.

Breaking Bread

We got blessed several mornings with a very hearty and delicious breakfast.  But more importantly we had some amazing times of fellowship with our brothers and sisters from Forest Lake Baptist Chruch.  The fellowship far out way the food we enjoyed.  The last big breakfast all the men got in there and cooked a good ole Baptist Men breakfast with lots of love.  The morning of the pancake breakfast though Mike and I could not eat with them.  We had to be in Choluteca for something so we got left out of this feast.  I teased Darren and Rebecca about cooking the best breakfast while we were not there.  Well the next morning the team was having cereal and grits for breakfast.  I walk into the dining hall to get my grits upon Rebecca handing me two perfectly crispy pancakes topped with syrup.  Tears came to my eyes as I was so humbled by such a generous act.  Once I started tearing up Rebecca was tearing up with me.  This may sound like very little but this was very huge to me.  They did not have to mix up a batch of pancake mix for two pancakes for me but they did.  So my two very special pancakes was my God moment that day.  Thank you Darren and Rebecca for going the extra mile and making me feel extra special.  I was truly blessed in so many different ways by this kind act which only can come from our Lord.  When you live out your life for the Lord this will not be a task but a blessing for you more than for others.  We learn this a lot here in Honduras.  We come to bless others and in return we are so blessed.

Tools for the Road

Along with God's Word there was other tools the team was abled to implement.  Bobby always brings this life size evagi cube to share the gospel especially with the children.  This evagi cube goes through the entire plan of salvation in a visual form.  The back packs are full with Bibles, spiritual tracks and eye glasses to those who are in need of vision care.  They would give out a Bible and the people cannot see to read their Bible.  The team observes this need and pulls out different strengths to help them read their new Bible.  Bobby and Harry both shared how excited they would get when they could actually read for the first time and they were able to read God's Word.  This week they needed umbrellas, hats and sunglasses to protect them from the sun rays as they hit the dirt paths everyday.  Sadly on the last day we were blessed with a tropical storm which caused the umbrellas to be used to protect us from the millions of droplets of raining being poured down on Colonia Williams and all of Honduras.  It has not been this cool in Honduras since 1944. The tropical storm did not deter this team from what they came to do share the gospel.